Washing machines,and especially laundry machines



May 5, 1970 M. M. A. TROUILHET WASHING MACHINES, AN D ESPECIALLY LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed Sept. 4, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w w R H 3 w m m WM 7 fin. H W m R w M l I 32 5S .2.

y 1970 M. M. A. TROUILHET 3,509,744

WASHING MACHINES, AND ESPECIALLY LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed Sept. 4, 1968 2 Sheefis-Sheet a INVENTOR MAURICE MAP/E flCH/LLE TROU/L HET 0 T ORNE V5 United States Patent 3,509,744 WASHING MACHINES, AND ESPECIALLY LAUNDRY MACHINES Maurice Marie Achille Trouilhet, Lyon, France, assignor to Calor Appareils Electro-Domestiques, Lyon, France, a company of France Filed Sept. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 757,322 Claims priority, application France, Dec. 13, 1967, 132,080 Int. Cl. D06f 13/00, 17/08 U.S. Cl. 68132 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is generally aimed at improvements in a washing machine. In a more particular way, the invention relates to a laundry machine, especially of the type described in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 610,628, filed on Jan. 20, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,406,543, in the name of this applicant under the title: Washing Machines, Notably Laundry Machines.

The washing machine described in the patent application included namely a vat containing the linen to be washed, as well as a large-diameter turbine wheel arranged near the bottom of said vat and driven for relatively slow rotation by means of a train of gears, rollers or the like and of a substantially vertical driving shaft dipping into the vat and having its upper end projecting into the top portion of said vat to cooperate there with the shaft of an electrical driving motor.

Such a design of the washing machine makes it possible to perform a soft and homogeneous stirring of the washing water and laundry contained within the vat while still constructing said machine in an extremely simplified way. Especially, this design allows the use of moulded plastic material by avoiding any sealing problems as the electric driving motor is placed above the vat and as no journal-bearing extends through said vat.

In the mentioned patent application have been described certain means to limit the rotary torque of the motor, especially at the starting up of the machine. Thus, in one case, a flexible coupling was provided on the shaft. In another case, it was provided to achieve the driving of the stirring wheel by means of a roller engaging substantially the rim of said wheel; if a jamming of this wheel occurred, said roller could slide on said rim, preventing any stalling of the motor and consequently a damaging of the latter by an improper use of the machine when, for example, the user fills it with too much laundry or when he does not add enough water.

' The invention is directly concerned with a coupling device between the driving shaft and the stirring wheel, so as to avoid any undue overload of the motor. The invented device permits a much more rapid and powerful starting of the machine, enabling the motor to rotate each time under conditions very close to its maximum useful output. Simultaneously, the coupling device according to this invention makes it possible to suppress all stresslimiting appliances otherwise required to protect the 3,509,744 Patented May 5, 1970 motor against an undue overload resulting from a faulty use.

The coupling device of this invention, intended to be mounted between the driving motor shaft and the stirring wheel, is characterized in that it is formed by a hydraulic coupling device immersed in the washing solution near to the bottom of the vat and in that it uses said washing solution as hydraulic coupling fluid.

According to another feature of the invention, the aforementioned hydraulic coupling device includes a driving turbine keyed on said driving shaft adjacent its bottom end, as well as a turbine driven by said driving turbine and solid in rotation with driver pinion or the like of said wheel.

It will at once be appreciated that the driving of said stirring wheel by said shaft may only be achieved by means of said hydraulic coupling if there is water in the tank. Indeed, when there is water in the tank the hydraulic coupler mounted close to the vat bottom is immersed and, under these conditions, said coupling device is capable of driving the stirring Wheel. However, allowance made for the operating features proper to hydraulic coupling devices, the driving motor rotates always under conditions approaching its optimum output. Especially when starting, the electric motor, which is advantageously of the asynchronous type, almost immediately adopts a high rotary speed whereby it is capable of supplying an important motor torque, well above its own starting torque. The hydraulic coupling device operates at any moment with a sliding rate corresponding to the resisting torque of the stirring wheel.

Thus, in accordance with this invention, it is possible to avail of all the advantages of the hydraulic couplers, used especially in motor cars, with the benefit of a simplified construction. As a fact, it is no more required to use a stress-limiting appliance and, besides, there is no necessity for a hydraulic coupling circuit as the coupling fluid is made up by the washing water itself.

Other features, aims and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the detailed description which will follow of a method of embodiment, given only by way of example, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view with partial breaking away and sections of a washing machine conformable to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view from above of the vat, the cover of the latter having been removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, with partial breaking-away and at a larger scale, of the hydraulic coupling device used in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show views, respectively from above and from below, of the two halves forming cooperating turbines in the hydraulic coupling device illustrated 0 FIG. 3.

By referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the washing machine in accordance with the invention and of the type described in the already mentioned patent application includes a vat 51, wherein the washing water 52 and the (not represented) laundry are stirred by a wheel 53 rotatably mounted at the bottom of the vat about a substantially vertical shaft in a bearing 54 which is solid with a removable supporting plate 55, secured to the bottom of the vat by means of clamps and ribs such as 56. The stirring wheel 53 includes a peripheral toothing 57 cooperating with the teeth 58 of a driving motor pinion 59. As detailedly described hereinafter, the motor pinion 59 is driven in rotation, with the help of a hydraulic coupling device 60, by means of the motor shaft 61 itself actuated by a (not represented) electric motor housed in a protecting hood 72 above the vat.

In the vat is also provided a wall 62 dividing said wt in a main compartment 63 wherein is placed the laundry, and an insulated secondary compartment 64 wherein rotates the shaft 61. This arrangement avoids any undue winding of the laundry about the shaft 61 as well as any catching of said laundry in the cooperating teeth 57 and 58 of the wheel 53 and the pinion 59, respectively.

In addition, in 65 (FIG. 2) may be seen one half of the detachable coupling device between the shaft 61 and the electric driving motor, as detailedly described in the mentioned patent application.

Indeed, all of the arrangement described until now, except for the coupling device 60, is of a construction very similar to that explained in details in said patent application. A more detailed description of this construction seems hence superfluous.

The hydraulic coupling device, which is a special object to this invention, will now be described.

By referring more particularly to FIGS. 3 to of the drawings, the coupling device 60 essentially includes a first half, forming a driving turbine 66 journalled on the driving shaft 61, and a second half forming driven turbine 67 mounted idle for rotation about the axis ZZ of shaft 61.

In the shown embodiment, it has been supposed that the shaft 61 is made of moulded plastic material at the end of which is mounted, for example set in, a metal member 68, for instance of stainless steel.

The driving turbine 66, journalled on the shaft 68, is for example screwed thereon. In contrast, the driven turbine 67 is mounted idle on a bearing 69 of end portion 68. Another bearing 70 of said member 68 rotates in a bearing 71 solid with wall 62 (FIGS. 1 and 2). It should be noted that wall 62 is suitably secured to the wall and the bottom of vat 51, forming for example a single piece together with the supporting plate 55.

A proper spacing between member 66 and 67 of the hydraulic coupling device is achieved, for example by means of a spacing washer 73, just as two washers 74 and 75 form spacers to limit the frictional forces between shaft 61, bearing 71 and shell-half 67. Both halves 66 and 67 of the hydraulic coupling device 60 are advantageously constituted by a moulded shell-half, for example of a thermoplastic material.

The moulded shell-half 67, which forms also a pinion 59 for driving the wheel 53 includes, in a way similar to the arrangement in standard hydraulic coupling devices, an annular chamber 76 separated by blades 77 which extend from the hub 78 to the periphery 79 of the turbine. In each cavity 80 formed in this :way may possibly be provided auxiliary radial blades 81.

The other driving half 66 of the hydraulic coupling device is of course constructed in a similar way and the parts which are the same in both figures are indicated in FIG. 5 by the same reference numerals provided with a prime index.

Advantageously, the two shell-halves 66 and 67 of the hydraulic coupling device exhibit blades 77, 77' which are staggered so as to never simultaneously face each other. This shifting away may for example be obtained by selecting a different number of blades for the two turbines 66 and 67 and, in this case, the selected numbers of the blades will preferably be incommensurable numbers.

To secure the operation of the hydraulic coupling device for all possible filling rates of the tank, the coupling device 60 will advantageously be housed in a depressed portion of the vat, for example in a sink pit 82 (FIG. 1).

By referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it may in addition be seen that the shaft 61 has been mounted substantially vertical in compartment 64 which forms an independent portion projecting on the side of the vat, the wall 62 forming a partition between the main compartment 63 and the secondary compartment 64, fitting closely without any projection the general contour of the vat. In this way, the laundry is free to rotate within the vat, wherein .a strong stirring of the water is secured by the stirring wheel 53 and by the substantially rounded-off edges of the vat.

The whole advantage of using a hydraulic coupling device according to the invention may be appreciated from the preceding description. At the start, the motor immediately adopts its working rate and the driving of the stirring wheel is progressively achieved until the motor torque balances the resisting torque. If a sudden jolt or variation occurs in the resisting torque, the sliding between the two members of the hydraulic coupling device increases resulting in an increase of the motor torque. The asynchronous motor driving shaft 61 remains hence constantly in its stable operating range and may never stall. On the other hand, the starting is achieved with the help of a torque equivalent to the maximum torque of which the asynchronous motor is capable, i.e., about two or three times above the stalled motor torque that may be obtained with the same motor.

In addition, as the washing solution exhibits a higher viscosity than that of pure water, for example during the rinsing operation, when the washing lye has been discarded, the machine slows down or stops by itself according to the selected structural features, advising thus automatically the user.

Of course, the invention is by no means limited to the described and represented method of embodiment, given by way of example only. Especially, it includes all technical means equivalent to the described means as well as their combinations, if the latter are carried out within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: s

I. A washing laundry machine, including a vat having disposed in the vicinity of its bottom a large-diameter wheel which is driven for slow rotation by means of a train of gears, rollers or the like, and of a substantially vertical driving shaft dipping into the vat, the top end of said shaft projecting in the upper portion of said vat to cooperate with the shaft of an electric driving motor, wherein a hydraulic coupling device is mounted between the motor driving shaft and the stirring wheel, said device being immersed in the washing solution near the vat bottom and using said Washing solution as hydraulic coupling fluid, said device comprising a driving turbine keyed on said driving shaft adjacent its bottom end, and a turbine driven by said driving turbine and solid in rotation with said driver gear or roller of said wheel.

2. Washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said driven turbine is mounted idle to rotate about said driving shaft.

3. Washing machine according to claim 2, wherein said driving shaft, ends with a metal member forming shaft end journalled in a bearing solid with the vat, the two aforementioned portions of the hydraulic coupling device being mounted on said metal member.

4. Washing machine according to claim 3, wherein said driving turbine is mounted at the free end of said driving shaft, while said driven turbine freely rotates upon said metal member between said driving turbine and said bear- 5. Washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said driven turbine is moulded as a single piece together with the driver pinion or roller of the stirring wheel.

6. Washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the driving and driven turbines are moulded in a plastic material and exhibit blades, which are shifted off so as to never simultaneously face.

7. Washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the shaft and the coupling device are mounted in an independent section forming a lateral projection, said section being separated from the proper vat containing the linen by a partition which substantially fits without projection to the general contour of the vat, and wherein the hy- 3,509,744 5 6 draulic coupling device is mounted in a part lower than 2,538,246 1/1951 Helm-Hansen 68-133 the bottom vat forming a sink pit. FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited 1,370,739 7/1964 France. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 506,583 12/1954 Italy- 112,603 3/1871 King 68-133 X WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner 1,735,391 11/1929 Herbert 68132 

